ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Mount Union women's volleyball team defeated Hiram 3-2 (25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) in five sets Tuesday night at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.

The Purple Raiders (13-3) were led by freshman Heaven Bartell (Cleveland / St. Joseph Academy) who had a hitting percentage of .455 with season-high 23 kills. Bartell led Mount Union in digs as well with a season-high 23.

Senior Maria Ellesin (Alliance / Marlington) and freshman Darby Leininger (Chardon / Beaumont) finished with double digit kills with 11 and 10 total.

Junior setters Mollie Thomas (Massillon / Massillon Perry) and Katie May (Brecksville / Independence) finished with 28 and 22 assists.

Thomas finished with 19 digs while junior libero Alyssa Kasaris (North Royalton) and sophomore Adrian Petrisko (Elyria) finished with 17 and 13 digs.

Mount Union pulled away in the first set when Leininger got the lead serving 10 consecutive times to push the lead out to 20-12. Mount Union finished the set winning 25-17 with a hitting percentage of .243 while Hiram committed nine errors and hit just .05 percent.

The second set was a reversal with Hiram scoring the first seven points of the set leading to a 25-21 set win for the Terriers.

Mount Union bounced back in the third set once again having May this time serve 11 straight times in the set to give the Raiders a 15-7 lead. Mount Union finished the set off winning 25-17.

The fourth set saw Mount Union's lead of 21-16 dwindle as Hiram scored the last 8 points to take a 25-23 set win.

In the fifth set Hiram jumped out to a 9-5 lead but Mount Union finished the set on a 10-3 run winning the set 15-12.

Mount Union now heads into Ohio Athletic Conference play taking to the road to take on Otterbein Saturday, October 2nd at 1 p.m. in Westerville, Ohio.